Chapter 56: Before the hunt

Elias:

I can't just stay idle. The river is now clean, even if the foul smell remains. Luke, the resident runesmith, placed some filtering runes on the river bed. Yet, there are no fish swimming in the water.

If our purpose is to kill Ajax the Bold, then we must take actions towards that goal. Norrix will need more training, however. He is passable with the spear, but I don't see him using it to great effect.

It would have been easier, if Norrix just let me give him some mana crystals, which would have speed up his learning. That is not an option, as the vampire is too afraid of them.

I block one of Norrix's jabs with my own spear. Then, I try to sweep his feet right from under him, but he jumps up. I smile at that.

"You are improving," I tell him. Then, just as he is about to respond, I twirl my spear, and then jab him in the stomach. "But you should really pay more attention."

"That was cheating," Norrix grumbles. I jab him in the stomach again.

"You can't let anything distract you during a bout," I say. When I try to jab him for the third time, he deflects the spear.

"Doesn't it irk you, that we are not out there, searching for Ajax?" Norrix asks. I quirk an eyebrow at him.

"You can't even fight against me, let alone Ajax. So, I ask you, why not wait?" I don't like the glint in the vampire's eyes. It looks almost like he is ready to cause trouble.

"If we keep on waiting, he'll just burn down more settlements," Norrix argues. I don't have it in me to argue against his reasoning. After all, I, too, want to go out there.

"The least we can do, is make sure Givontair has time to heal," I say, as I try to hit Norrix on the shoulder. Unlike the last time I used such a tactic, he manages to block my jab with his spear. I grin at that. "You are a quick study; do you know that?"

"I try my best," Norrix stabs at the ground with his spear, showing me that he wants a break. "We really should formulate a plan. One doesn't go up against the King of the Dragons by waiting for a lucky break."

"Come on, let us go to Giv. He knows Ajax the best," I say. I lead the vampire, and he follows me at a sedate pace. On the way, I see Erik together with Nathaniel. The boy has a backpack on his back, which looks ready to burst open.

"Hey, back from school?" I ask the raven-haired boy. He nods energetically.

"They have many different subjects in here. Uncle Elias, I am not too far behind my classmates," I am glad that the boy doesn't feel left out. For, if he did, then he would have been discouraged to do his best.

"Glad to hear that," I tell him. Nathaniel looks me in the eyes for a moment. I wonder, just what does he want to tell me?

"Hey, Nate. What is bothering you?" Norrix appears not to want to just let the necromancer's thoughts unsaid.

"Sorix is muscling in on my relationship," Nate says, as he bows his head. "The worst part is, that Givontair doesn't seem to mind."

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"Don't worry, Nate. I am certain that Giv loves only you," I say. A part of me wants to also state that the Dread Lord is not exactly anyone's romantic choice. There is no telling, when the Dread is going to resume speaking to him.

"I wish I was as convinced as you," Nate says. Erik looks up at him.

"Nate, you are not going to leave Giv, are you?" The boy sounds on the verge of crying. Nate places a hand on the boy's head, and pats him three times.

"I am not convinced that I will, no. But I am also conflicted about Sorix joining in," these words don't seem to calm the boy. When I hear the first sniff, I go, and kneel before Erik, so we can be at an eye level.

"You won't be abandoned, kiddo. Giv and Nate practically adopted you," I assure him.

"Were you going to meet with Givontair?" Nathaniel asks. I nod. "It is a bit too late at night, for a talk."

"If it is not too late for a school day to end, then we can get a couple of words with our resident dragon," Norrix says with a sly smile on his lips. I blink at that.

"Erik, you were in the school until 9 p.m.?" I have gone to the same school, in which Erik is enrolled. I don't remember it taking that much time of the day.

"I signed up for the track team. We did drills until a while ago," Erik then rubs the back of his head. "I am a bit behind my teammates, though. They can really run!"

I don't notice any jealousy in the boy's tone. Just acceptance, and the drive to do better.

"Ok, let us all go to Giv together. His shift in the clinic should be done for the day," Nathaniel says.

Before long, we are all in the dragon's room. I doubt that Erik should be present for this, but I don't make any attempts to get him out of the room. Givontair is writing something down, when he notices us. He smiles at us, and stands up.

"What brings you all here? Erik, how did the track team practice go?" Giv asks. Erik beams at him.

"I didn't finish last," the boy is noticeably proud of his achievement. I am glad that he is not bitter about not finishing first.

"We need to talk, Giv. It is about Ajax," Nathaniel says. I can see that a million thoughts and one swim through the dragon's brain. Finally, he sighs.

"I suppose you want for us to hunt him down? My tail is not healed," he pauses then, and adds. "But if Ajax is taken out of the skies, that won't matter much."

I can see the glint in Nate's eyes. It is almost as if he has been given something to hold on to. Yet, is he up to the task, of taking a dragon out of the skies? 

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